About the Contest

The Center on Colfax and Rocky Mountain College of Arts and Design (RMCAD) have partnered to host "The Words We Teach..." - an art contest highlighting Denver LGBTQ+ history.

The phrase “the words we teach...” comes from the quote “the words we teach our children shape the world.” When we make art that tells a story from history, we place the value of that story in something people will cherish. “The Words We Teach…” brings together faculty and students from RMCAD, local middle and high school students, and our community to build some of the first art related to LGBTQ+ history in the state of Colorado. Through this art contest, participating young artists will tell stories that have rarely been told through art.

This contest asks participants to produce an original artwork inspired by the story of Irene De Soto and the Transsexual, Lesbian, and Gay Defense Coalition. All middle and high school students living in the Denver area are welcome to participate. 

Contest Rules

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST?

Only middle and high school students living in the Denver area are eligible to apply.

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST?

  1. Review the history and resources about Irene De Soto.

  2. Make an artwork inspired by her story that uses one of the following media:

    • 2-D collage: two-dimensional works that arrange and attach materials (like paper, fabric, photographs, or other found ephemera) onto a supporting surface (like paper, cardboard, wood, or canvas)

    • 2-D drawing or painting: two-dimensional works that use drawing materials (like pencil, pen, ink, charcoal, crayon, pastel, or marker) or paint (like acrylic, oil, watercolor, gouache, tempera, ink, or spray paint) on a flat surface (like paper or canvas)

    • 2-D digital (human or human curated-AI) images: two-dimensional works that use digital technologies (like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Procreate, Corel Painter, or AI generators) during the production process

    • 2-D photography: two-dimensional works that use either a film or digital camera during the production process

  3. Submit your artwork by completing the contest's submission form. Please make sure to follow the instructions listed in the form. Click here to find the submission form.

Contest Prizes

1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive:

  • Visa gift cards (1st place: $200, 2nd place: $150, 3rd place: $100)

  • A portfolio review with RMCAD faculty 

  • A certificate of award 

  • A RMCAD swag bag

  • An exhibition at RMCAD (summer 2024)

All contest participants will receive: 

  • Individualized feedback from RMCAD students about their artwork

  • A guided tour of RMCAD’s campus led by student ambassadors

Contest Timeline

Submissions will be accepted until Friday, April 12, 2024.

All artists will be notified of the contest results by Friday, May 3, 2024.

The exhibition featuring the award-winning artworks will take place in June 2024.